Eyelid-lifter



No Model.)

H. K. LAMB. EYELID LIFTER.

Patented May 9, 1893,

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citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented an Eyelid- Lifter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,c1ear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the especially to that class of devices adapted to be applied to the eye; and the object of the 1 same is to produce an instrument adapted to a support the lid of a so-called drooping eye or one suffering from ptosis.

' lifter comprising an elevator and a support UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE K. LAMB, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

EYELIDI-ILIFTEFI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 497,052, dated May 9, 1893. Application filed July 25, 1892. Serial No. 441,158.. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE K. LAMB, a

same.

This in vention relates to surgery, and more To this end the invention consists in a lidfor the samethe whole being constructed substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical section through an eye and the surrounding parts, showing my lifter in place. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view and a section of my preferred form of lifter. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view and a section of another form of lifter. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of still another form of lifter. The remaining figures illustrate my lifter as used in connection with the rim of a pair of spectacles-Whether with or without the glasses therein. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form. Fig. 6 is asimilar View of anotherform, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the eye, showing the application of the form shown in Fig. 6.

The same letters of reference (with (lifterent supernumerals) designate similar parts in the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown therein my invention in two main or principal forms, viz: the interior form as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, wherein the support for the eyelid-elevator stands within the eye-socket or orbit of the eye; and the exterior form, as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, wherein the support stands without the eye or beyond the line of the face.

In all the forms illustrated, the letter E with its supernumerals represents the elevator,

and the letter S with its supernumerals represents the support.

The interior form-Fi g. 2 shows how I now prefer to construct my eyelid-lifter and its support. In this case the support is a nearly circular ring S of comparatively stiff wire adapted to be inserted within the orbit of the eye as shown in Fig. 1. That is to say, it rests at the bottom upon the integument which covers the cheekbone, and at the top upon the integument covering the frontal bone at points just within the line where said bones stand nearest together. In this manner the integuments will in time become slightly indented by the gentle pressure of the support so that they will automatically hold the latter in correct position. The eye-orbit being at this point somewhat smaller than it is farther within the head, it will be obvious that the location of the support in the position described will not in any Way interfere with the natural and artificial actions of the eye and its members. The size of this support is such that the lids may move through it without interfering therewith and the eye may be completely closed or opened at will. In shape this support is elliptical but nearly circular, but at two points which stand near the corners of the eye it is bent slightly to the rear just above the bends R, and at its center it curves upwardly and is preferably flattened at right angles to its ends. This center bears upon the outer face of the upper lid at a point slightly above the lower edge thereof, and, like the support, in time it will slightly embed the flesh so as to prevent its slipping.

In use, a support of the proper size and shape to conform with the configuration and dimensions of the patients eye is inserted as above described, and the elevator is caused to press upon the upper lid at the proper point. The normal tendency of the elevator being to rise to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be obvious that it will assist the levator palpebrae muscle in raising the lid, or if this muscle is entirely inactive the elevatorby being made perhaps a trifle stiffermay be caused to act alone to raise the lid. When the patient desires to close this eye, he involuntarily exerts force upon the orbicularus palpebrae mu scle to draw the lid downward, and as it so moves the elevator yields where it is twisted as at T and passes forward through the support or as far as may be necessary, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Upon again releasing this force, the elevator causes the automatic opening of the eye whether or not in any degree assisted by the levator pal pebrae muscle.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification. In this case the elevator E is of approximately the same shape as that above described, but its flattened portions T join or are integral with the support S, and the latter follows the curve of the lower side of the eyeorbit as shown. For the reason that there is here no power holding the support down and in place, it maybe found necessary to provide a number of clamps G which fit close over the flesh covering the cheek bone; and, in fact, one or more of these clamps C may be used in the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. They may be made in any preferred manner, as by pressing short pieces of curved spring metal upon and over the support.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another modification wherein the elevator E is practically the same and is connected by flexible twists T with the support, which latter follows the construction of the upper side of that shown in Fig. 2. In this case, however, there being nothing to sustain the support, I provide a small integral clamp O which embraces the flesh covering the cheek bone at the end of the orbit or at the lower side thereof. At the other end, the support is provided with an extension N which preferably passes over the bridge of the nose and clamps the same gently as will be understood. The action of these modified devices is the same as that above described, andlthe tendency of the support in each is to assume a greater curvature or one following a smaller circle.

The exterior form-This is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. In this case the support S is the rim of a pair of spectacles having a rather stiff bow E and nose-piece N The flexible twist T supports the elevator E in the same manner as above, except thatfor the reason that the spectacles stand in front of the face and at a greater distance from the eye-ballthis twist must be longer in order to cause the elevator to stand in operative position.

Figs. 6 and 7 show an obvious slight modification in which but a single twist or flexible bar '1 is used, leading to the center of the elevator instead of to its ends as in Fig. 5. In these three figures, the operation of the device is the same as that above described, and the flexibility may occur in either the twist or the elevator or both.

Without limiting myself to the exact constructions hereinbefore described, what I claim as new is- 1. An eye lid lifter consisting of a support of a shape to be held automatically adjacent the eye, and a strip connected thereto and adapted to engage upon the outside of the lid.

2. An eye lidlifter consisting of a support of a shape to be held automatically adjacent the eye, and a flexible strip connected at its ends with said support and adapted to engage the lid, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An eye-lid lifter consisting of a support adapted to be held within the orbit of the eye, and a strip connected with said support and adapted to engage the lid, substantially as described.

4. An eye-lid lifter consisting of a support adapted to be seated within the orbit of the eye, a clamp on the support taking over the edge of the bone surrounding said orbit, and a strip having flattened and flexible ends connected with said support and adapted to engage the lid, substantially as described.

5. An eye-lid lift-er consisting of a support adapted to be seated within the orbit of the eye, said support being bent to the rear at the corners of the eye, and a flexible strip connected with said support and adapted to engage the lid, substantially as described.

6. An eye-lid lifter consisting of a support adapted to be seated within the orbit of the eye, a clamp on the support taking over the edge of the bone surrounding said orbit, said support being bent to the rear at the corners of the eye, and a flexible strip connected with said support at points adjacent its bends to the rear and adapted to support the lid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE K. LAMB.

Witnesses:

N. L. OOLLAMER, J. H. J OOHUM, Jr.

Oountersigned It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 497,052, granted May 9, 1893 upon the application of Horace K. Lamb, of Denver, Oolorado, for an improvement in Eyelid-Lifters, an error appears in the printed specification requiring the following correction, viz.: In line 57, page 2, the reference letter E should read B and that i the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 16th day of May, A. D. 1893.

[SEAL] JNO. M. REYNOLDS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

JOHN S. SEYMOUR,

Commissioner of Patents. 

